BAPTISM What about the Thief on The Cross baptism is... a. For the remissions of sins - cf. Ac 2:38 b. Therefore necessary for salvation - cf. Ac 22:16; 1 Pe 3:21 -- Which certainly seems consistent with Jesus’ own words in Mk 16:15-16 But invariably someone will say: “What about the thief on the cross?” - Lk 23:39-43 The objection can be summarized like this: a. The thief on the cross was not baptized b. The thief was saved c. Therefore, baptism is not essential to salvation! Is such reasoning valid?] JESUS CERTAINLY HAD THE POWER TO SAVE HIM... 1. While on earth, Jesus had the authority to forgive sins 2. He exercised this authority on several occasions a. For the paralytic - Lk 5:18-26 b. For the sinful woman - Lk 7:36-50 JESUS CLEARLY OFFERED HIM SALVATION... The thief asked: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” - Lk 23:42 Jesus replied: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” - Lk 23:43 -- None can doubt that Jesus promised him salvation! [Yet the question remains: Is the salvation of the thief relevant to the issue? Consider that...] THE THIEF WAS SAVED BEFORE BAPTISM WAS COMMANDED THE BAPTISM UNDER DISCUSSION... Was commanded after Jesus died and arose - Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16 Was a baptism into Jesus’ death - Ro 6:3-4 -- How could the thief been baptized into Jesus’ death, when Jesus had not yet died? THE THIEF WAS NEVER SUBJECT TO THIS BAPTISM... It was commanded after he died! . Just like Adam, Noah, Moses, etc. . None of these were baptized . But they all lived before the death of Jesus . And like the thief, were never commanded to be baptized! . Yes, there was the baptism of John - Mk 1:4-5 . But that was preparing people for the coming of Christ . It was designed to be replaced by baptism into Christ and His death - cf. Ac 19: 4-5 -- One might use the thief on the cross to say John’s baptism was not necessary, but the argument can’t be made regarding the baptism which Christ later commanded! [The thief on the cross died before Jesus gave His commandment in Mt 28 and Mk 16. Since we live after Jesus commanded baptism, how can we use the example of the thief to say it is not necessary? In a similar vein...]
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 05:31:36 +0000
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